I'm still receiving plenty of interesting e-mails and letters with stories about the filming of "Public Enemies."
Karen Lubas, of Hammond, Donna Werner, of Kouts, and Amy Braunlich, of Chesterton, not only were cast in the film and fitted with period wardrobe, but these three gals also managed to grab the photo op so many dream of with the film's star Johnny Depp.
"Last year I was selected along with a good friend, Amy Braunlich, from Chesterton, to be in the movie 'Public Enemies,' " Werner said.
"We received the call in March and reported to wardrobe fillings in April. We had so much fun seeing director Michael Mann film and watch Johnny Depp act. During the filming, the crowds outside the theater where we shot were chanting his name. He was so gracious, he went outside to greet them. It was amazing to me that people waited until the very early hours of the morning just to see him. This was a great experience for both Amy and I."
Worth the trip
John Dillinger and his legendary gang tore across the Midwest between 1933 and 1934, robbing banks, confounding law officials and captivating the American public.
Seventy-five years later, besides the new film by Universal Pictures "Public Enemies," a new museum exhibit in Indianapolis, near the late gangster's home town, called DILLINGER! Forging a Hoosier Legend aims to captivate and educate new generations of Hoosiers about America's first and most infamous public enemy.
The exhibit will be open from July 15 through Dec. 31 at the Indiana State Library in downtown Indianapolis.
The museum-quality exhibit will feature unique Dillinger artifacts, photographs and documents that will give visitors an in-depth look into the life of John Dillinger and what factors led this ordinary Hoosier farm boy towards a life of crime. With the concurrent release of the film "Public Enemies," the exhibit will add a rich historical element to the public discourse.
"While John Dillinger was a criminal, his rogue legend is an important part of our Hoosier heritage," said Roberta L. Brooker, Indiana state librarian.
"This exhibit offers unique perspectives on how factors like his Hoosier upbringing, the state's justice and penal systems and key elected officials shaped Dillinger into the nation's most notorious villain."
The "DILLINGER!" exhibit was produced by students from the Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis with the assistance of Exhibit House through a grant from the IUPUI Solution Center. Historical materials used for the exhibit come from the collections from the Indiana State Archives, the Indiana State Library, The Indianapolis Star and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Features of the exhibit include letters and official state documents pertaining to Dillinger from the Indiana Department of Correction, the Indiana State Police, the Governor's Office, and the offices of the Attorney General and Secretary of State. Materials from The Indianapolis Star include original Depression-era photographs and articles about Dillinger and his gang.
For more information about DILLINGER! Forging a Hoosier Legend, including exhibit hours, public programs and destination information, visit dillingerlegend.org.
The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at philip.potempa@nwi.com or 219.852.4327.
Today's Celebrity Birthdays
Former first lady Nancy Reagan is 88. Actor William Schallert ("The Patty Duke Show") is 87. Actress-singer Della Reese is 78. Actor Ned Beatty is 72. Inspirational religious leader The Dalai Lama is 74. Singer Gene Chandler and actor Ned Beatty are 69. Country singer Jeannie Seely is 69. President George W. Bush and actor Burt Ward ("Batman") are 64. Actors Fred Dryer and Sylvester Stallone are 63. Actor Geoffrey Rush is 58. Actress Shelley Hack and actor Grant Goodeve ("Eight is Enough") are 57. Singer Nanci Griffith is 56. Actress Allyce Beasley ("Moonlighting") is 55. Drummer John Keeble of Spandau Ballet is 50. Actor Brian Posehn ("Just Shoot Me") is 43. Actor Glenn Scarpelli ("One Day at a Time") is 41. Rapper Inspectah Deck of Wu-Tang Clan is 39. Rapper 50 Cent is 33. Actresses Tia and Tamera Mowry
("Sister, Sister") are 31. Actor Matthew O'Leary ("Spy Kids") is 21. Actor Jeremy Suarez ("Bernie Mac") is 19.
